You are here

Board shifts part of inside millage

In an unexpected move Wednesday, Perkins school board members reversed course on plans to pursue new buildings, and they instead adhered to the majority will of Perkins Township taxpayers.

Board members voted 4-1 to return a portion of moved millage — 3.2 mills of 5.2 total mills — back to the district’s operating fund. Newly re-elected board member Terry Chapman voted against the measure.

The vote backtracked on a 2011 decision to move the operating funds, called “inside millage,” into the district’s permanent improvement fund, a separate account intended for building projects. The move quickly depleted the district’s operating fund, which is used for salaries and other day-to-day operations. Voters rejected three tax levy proposals this year to restore the operating fund, most recently on Nov. 5. Many “no” voters said the millage move prompted them to reject the tax levies.

On Wednesday, board members contended the decision to move the millage back was a “political move,” and not the most “fiscally responsible” decision. They discussed the tough choice with almost 100 community members for about two hours.

“This will cost you more money in the long run, but we’re elected by the people to represent the people, and this is what they want,” board president Matt Kosior said. “What you’re asking us to do is a very difficult decision.”

The 3.2 mills was a “comfortable amount” to move, leaving some funds available to repay a district loan to conduct a new building study, Kosior said.

Moving the millage back will return about $1.4 million to the district’s general operating fund each year, superintendent Jim Gunner said. The district will receive about half that amount in the current school year, with the first payment collected in February.

To pursue future building projects and maintain operating funds, voters will still likely need to approve several tax levies or bond issues.

“This is not a long-term solution,” Kosior said.

Board members haven’t determined what they will do with the new operating funds this spring, but it’s possible they could restore some recently cut faculty members or reduce the district’s costly pay-to-participate fees.

Prior to Wednesday’s move, Perkins Schools faced a dire financial dilemma, with only an estimated $23,500 in reserve cash left at the end of the current school year, according to a five-year financial forecast. Its budget is about $21 million a year.

Voters rejected a 10-year, 6.73-mill levy proposal last week, with 61 percent voting against it, according to unofficial election results.

The millage move and the series of failed levy attempts effectively divided the Perkins Schools community, pitting levy supporters and opposers against each other in heated debates.

During Wednesday’s meeting, however, about a dozen individuals on both sides of the issue discussed their views, with most agreeing on at least one thing: the enlightening conversation was long overdue.

“This is the best meeting and back-and-forth dialogue we’ve had in the two years I’ve been on the board,” board member Brad Mitchel said.

Board members cleared up some misunderstandings Wednesday, such as the notion taxpayers voted to create the “inside millage” funds, when the state actually established them in the 1930s for districts to use as they pleased.

Community members Bob Weichel and J Franklin, who voted against the Nov. 5 levy, said Wednesday’s move and conversation was the best way to restore taxpayer trust in the district moving forward.

“Until we stop fighting and labeling each other, nothing good is going to happen,” Weichel said. “This will restore our trust in you. It’s a step in the right direction.”

The millage move was not initially listed on the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting. Board members amended the agenda following a two-hour closed-door meeting to discuss personnel. A closed-door meeting also followed the regular meeting, with no action taking place afterward.

Comments

observer

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 9:46am

Finally the board realizes the people aren't gonna just lay down and be patsies to their every whim. Threats and ridiculous pay to play fees don't go over well with the residents.I do see the Gunner bot, Terry Chapman, was the lone "no" vote to moving the funds back. He refuses to accept that maybe, just maybe, the people don't agree with his decisions. After all, he's Terry Chapman. How can we "little people" not bow to his superior knowledge? Some people will never learn.

qmodye

Sun, 11/17/2013 - 6:27pm

my roomate's ex-wife makes $66/hour on the computer. She has been fired for nine months but last month her pay check was $19799 just working on the computer for a few hours. Continue Reading http://x.co/2pwze

Good 2 B Me

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 9:53am

RE: Observer

The worst part is that somehow Chapman got another 4 years! We still have to deal with him.

As many predicted, suddenly the BOE has a viable solution. There will more than likely be no Pay-to-play fees and they will retain the employees that they threatened to cut.

Let's see if that is what heppens!

Good 2 B Me

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 9:55am

Time to get fiscally responsible and start running this thing like a business!

Bherrle

Wed, 11/20/2013 - 9:56am

.

goodtime1212

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 10:16am

This will NOT restore our trust, it is a start. Not until they scrap there idea of a new school, come to the tax payers and show other options they have looked at with real cost estimates. We will still be a NO vote. As soon as we vote yes the money will go right to the new school.

oldpirate

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 10:21am

How many businesses make decisions that will end up costing more money? This was just a feel good choice. So hope you feel as good when you end up digging much deeper into your pocket. It's all mathematical at this point.

Good 2 B Me

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 10:20pm

It needs to be run efficiently. A well run business can be run that way. It is time to streamline the way that things are being done. Stop throwing money at nothing and start using it wisely.

Yes, it can be done.

As for digging deeper, if the project is well planned out and can be shown to be beneficial, I would vote yes and support it. The lies and deceit are why I voted NO. Prove to me that you understand what Perkins Schools needs and I am all over it!

Thomas Paine

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 10:32am

This is not being fiscally responsible. A school cannot be run like a business. If it were being run like a business, there would be a bussing fee, pay to play would be the norm and you could expect to pay for text books and wireless internet fees as well as still pay taxes. If that is what you want, we should drop taxes and just go to the college model. Imagine paying 16+ years of college fees. Please stop comparing school funding to a business it is the equivalent of comparing spinach to pizza. In the end it will cost everyone no matter what their opinion is more money. Short term it gives the district another year to pass a levy. That's it. All the previous problems still exist. Voters forced the board to kick the can down the road. Yes, politically it is the correct move and I actually applaud the board for doing it especially considering that more than likely Gunner is on his way out as well. Maybe a levy will pass now? I doubt it. We will see. Its a bad financial move that I can see costing each and every homeowner an additional $300-500 a year in the future. In the end this will also hurt the districts ability to find a qualified applicant for a soon to be vacant superintendent job. I understand Chapman's dissent because he is a business man (which seems to be what no voters want the school to run like), a banker, and he clearly understands what this move will cost everyone in the future. At this point you can call me whatever names you want. All I ask is you take them all back when you start paying a LOT more in school taxes 3-4 years down the road and realize in 2008 we the voters made a horrible mistake. My guess is most here will blame whatever administration exists then for not managing money properly when in reality it is we the people who have royally screwed things up with how we have voted. Sorry if this upsets anyone but its the truth. Look around at the people we have voted into nearly every position in the last 2 decades on every level, local, state, federal and tell me that we have elected leaders. We have continually elected people who say what we want to hear instead of people the give us the bleak reality of where we are headed and how we can dig ourselves out.

middleclassworker

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 8:51pm

the truth!! The BOE and Gunner invested $3.5 M of taxpayer money for a project tax payer's do not want....A new campus.

Would we have this conversation if we didn't have a banker on the BOE who works for the same bank the money was borrowed from? Would we have any of these threats if the BOE and Gunner didn't attempt to lead us by deception? If you think I am wrong lets refer back to the Health Dept and Fire Dept statements after concern citizens contacted them over allegations that Gunner presented to the Sandusky Register in an attempt to bully votes!!

That is not leadership I will support.

Thomas Paine

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 11:25am

The banker who works for the same bank as the loan is a non issue. Has been documented as a non issue. Its an absurd comment when all the data documenting it is public record and proves there is no issue. Would you rather they borrow money from a non local bank? I for one am happy (not for the loan itself) but the fact they used a local entity for it and kept local people employed.

middleclassworker

Sun, 11/17/2013 - 11:25am

Do you think his job will be effected if he school system is unable to make the payments and claims bankruptcy?

My point is, the BOE should have never agreed to a loan the tax payer's didn't desire! Banker's need people and businesses to borrow money. I have no doubt he indirectly motivated and benefited from the transaction. It promotes continued employment the more business your employer has. Thus the more employee's they can support. The better health care they can support. The better retirement they can support. The more vacation time they can support. ect.

Nemesis

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 10:55pm

Paine, that all sounds so smart, except for one screaming fact: The country is full of private schools that do better while spending less per pupil than most public schools. So, we have examples of how K-12 being run like a business works great.

Thomas Paine

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 11:20am

Not a valid comparison. You need to look at the makeup of the students at those schools. It would be the equivalent of comparing a public school in a very affluent neighborhood with high incomes and an educated workforce, to an inner city public school with lower incomes and a less educated workforce. There is zero accountability for a private school. At least, even though I disagree with the majority on the perkins issue, there is accountability from the state and to us the voters. Education should never be just a free market driven by profit. Ever. You say you want voter input and a free market? I do want voter input- But I want it to be a republic not a straight democratic system. A republic, like the United States, has elected representatives who (supposedly) vote like the people who voted them into office on the issues. The advantage of a republic is that people don't have to spend all their time voting on issues, and their representatives can spend the time becoming familiar with the issues that must be voted upon. The key to this is representatives that spend time becoming familiar with the issues...which very few have done on here. Completely and 100% disagree with any statement that says charter schools are better than public schools. It would take a lot of data and arguments to change my mind on that one.

themomx6

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 10:38am

oldpirate, no one is going to " end up digging much deeper into their pocket" unless they vote for a new levy. And that will depend on the trust we have in the BOE and whether or not we agree with what the new $$$$ will be used for. If, and when, a new levy is passed, it will be because the RESIDENTS OF PERKINS TOWNSHIP agree with the BOE, not because we were threatened, lied to, manipulated, and forced to pay exorbitant fees for students to play a sport that the school makes money from.

goodtime1212

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 1:30pm

THEMOMX6 You said everything was thinking.

oldpirate

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 10:45am

Mom you will end up paying more. Whether it is the BOE or the state. or in another district. These are the only possibilities. I guess you can hunker in your doomsday bunker. You can't escape it's all a mathematical certainty at this point.

Thomas Paine

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 11:41am

Agree 100% If the state takes over we can expect this: When a district enters the category of fiscal emergency, a five-member board called the financial planning and supervision commission will be appointed. The district board of education will continue to make decisions, but they won't mean anything because the commission has the final say over everything that happens. This effectively means the voters have ZERO say in what happens.

fifteenthgreen

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 1:23pm

Which leads us to our previous lengthy, constructive discussion, Thomas. The merger talk!!!

Dude i Roc

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 2:15pm

Go Polar Pirates! Ed Kurt can run the school system after the merger. He listens to his constituents. When the idea of new school buildings was met with lack of support, Mr Kurt and school board did not continue to force the agenda a few years back.

Nemesis

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 10:57pm

The voters still control the purse strings. The state constitution doesn't allow the imposition of additional taxes without a vote.

Bherrle

Sun, 11/17/2013 - 9:43am

Only until such time that after the State has taken over , and if the community continues to not pass levies, the state decides to dissolve the district into one or more surrounding districts. Then your taxes will go up , to match that of the district your property was dissolved into, with no vote.

All hypothetical still at this point, but that is the end game of continuing to not pass levies.

VOTENO

Sat, 11/16/2013 - 7:43pm

Vote yes.

Thomas Paine

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 11:49am

themomx6 who is forcing you to pay those fees? Just as you have a choice to vote how you want, you also have a choice for your kids not to play a sport and the option to open enroll elsewhere. If what is being done is being labeled as "fiscally responsible" lets be consistent and not pick and choose what fits that category based on what is convenient to our own lifestyle.

themomx6

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 12:42pm

I don't pay any fees. My children graduated long ago. However, forcing young people to pay money to play a sport that the school receives financial benefits from is ridiculous. I think the parents of Perkins students should have stood together and protested that by simply refusing to pay. Force the overpaid AD to have to cancel all the sporting events for the year, and let the multimillion dollar stadium sit empty, and I'd bet those pay to play fees would be gone quickly. Why is it always the students who get punished by the BOE? Why don't the teachers take a $750 per year pay cut to make up the shortfall? I doubt that they would even miss it, yet teacher concessions are never mentioned, and please don't bring up that "pay freeze" because we all know they got raises anyway. Why doesn't Gunner and the AD take a pay cut if they care so much? Gunner made about $117,000 per year to divide a community and run our school system into the ground. IMHO, he should give most of that salary back. One problem in the Perkins schools is that you have way too many overpaid positions. Perkins schools are run like the U. S. government. They waste so much money (like a $3.5 million loan) then they want to just raise taxes to make up for their inept handling of the funds they had. Let them try cutting some of those other wasteful things BEFORE laying a higher tax burden on the citizenship of the community.

Azure Ray

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 7:26pm

Asking teachers to split $750 per sport, per kid would be absurd. The student-teacher ratio is near 30-1, and many students play 2 or 3 sports per year. To call teachers/educators a "wasteful thing" is just plain stupid. The schools are not put in place for kids to play sports, they are put here to to educate students in subjects that will prepare them for college. There are plenty of schools in the area that are open enrollment AND don't have pay to play fees. Any student is able to attend those schools if they want to. It sucks to have to pay for sports, but they have been a privilege for a long time and many people seem to believe that students are entitled to play free sports. Any community in the state of Ohio who struggles financially will soon come to realize that it is no longer a privilege. Ohio schools are unfairly funded, and we will soon see those wealthy communities keep on the way they have in the past and the poorer communities lose all of the extras. Unfortunately, that's the way it goes.

Darkhorse

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 11:54am

Who is the Board fooling anyways? The Board new they had to move the reserved money over to meet the demands of the budget since the taxpayer declined to vote yes on the levy. They need to draw funds from somewhere to make up for the lack of support by the voters.

KURTje

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 1:22pm

The paying people must be attended to.

goodtime1212

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 1:32pm

Didn't Gunner say on one of his rants that the money couldn't be moved back???

oldpirate

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 2:01pm

15th your real agenda is starting to show. Merging will drastically increase the burden on the taxpayer. 42 mills compared to what we pay now. Sandusky is much more admin. top heavy and better paid and they aren't about to take pay cuts. You would be advised to take a closer look at how they spend the money. I have said that their are those that see the failure of the schools to be a direct avenue to the end of Perkins twp. Is that what you want to accomplish?

fifteenthgreen

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 3:02pm

Not necessarily for a merger yet but Thomas Paine and I had an interesting discussion on the possibilities of combining resources, building the new campus, influx of revenue, etc. with the merger. In theory, do you think the 42 mills would decrease should a merger occur due to both the city and the township tax revenue being combined? Also, all resource spending virtually will be cut in half. Just an interesting theory.

No negative agenda. Just one that works for all parties involved.

Thomas Paine

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 4:24pm

I do believe some serious discussions and ideas should be thrown out and explored. There are a lot of good ideas out there that should at least be on the table and reviewed. Everyone can have a different take and I do honestly believe most people want the same things. I just don't think financially the majority of voters truly understand the restrictions on school funding that makes them continuously come back to the community for funds. If everyone did, I think the majority would change their minds about the direction of the board and district. I also think the view of Sandusky School district from those in Perkins is unfair and just as silly as some of the no voters on here.

oldpirate

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 2:04pm

All the possibilities cost more money. It is a mathematical certainty!

donutshopguy

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 4:04pm

Old pirate,

If you live longer than today everything will cost more. So what's your point ? The schools are like housing, food, utilities and entertainment ? That was logical .

underthebridge

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 7:01pm

Thank you!

donutshopguy

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 10:47pm

My utmost respect to the citizens of the Perkins school system . Standing up for your constitutional rights to control your lives and decide by majority what is best in your school system.

This should be a case study in high school government class on local citizens not abdicating their voting rights to the school board.

Many have died to protect these rights. It's hard to protect these freedoms. It's easy to sell them for money.

Thank you Perkins citizens for taking a tough stand and not selling out your rights through this proposed millage switch.

oldpirate

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 4:29pm

Man up, pass the levy. there is a series of events that will occur the longer this goes on. The burden on the taxpayer only increases.

fifteenthgreen

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 4:35pm

The districts hands weren't tied when they were writing checks the district couldn't afford to cash. Now all the millage can't be moved back because they took out a loan without the ability to repay, thus the need for the millage to repay a dead building project. I'd say we have been living beyond our means...especially considering all of this occurred at the tail end of the great recession.

In the past now. We need to continue to look for answers that the majority of the voting public will accept and agree upon.

Thomas Paine

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 4:38pm

Again agree. The way school funding is set up is pay now or pay later. The real problem in this discussion is not at the local level but rather the state level. I see two distinct choices: 1) by continuing to vote no at the local level a merger is the most likely outcome which equals a higher cost and tax burden to Perkins residents in the short term but in all honesty opens up a lot of growth options for both communities for the future and should be discussed. Or 2) vote no a few more times, get rid of Gunner, BOE members start with new ones, and then vote a new levy in which will be more than the one we could have passed. And will cost the taxpayers millions in the process to get to that end. The majority continues to state they are being fiscally conservative by voting no while wasting millions of tax dollars for the community. In actuality by voting how we have we have lost more tax dollars than we believe this administration has cost us.

middleclassworker

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 8:36pm

lets do the math

800 k payment over 5 years for a $3.5M loan we didn't want or need ( roughly $ 4 M)

Why did we need this large of a levy for a loan we didn't need and why do we need the threat of larger levies to come??

oldpirate

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 4:32pm

Your opinion does no change anything that will occur.

fifteenthgreen

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 4:38pm

What will "occur" possibly could have been avoided if the above wouldn't have "occurred".

Thomas Paine

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 4:41pm

There are a lot of things that could have been avoided. Its time to look forward and not back.

oldpirate

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 4:43pm

So do we lament that which we can't change or proceed with what we need to. I choose to pass the levy and move on. I am not happy with every decision that has been made. I'm just not willing to destroy the school, community and my pocket book because of them.

Thomas Paine

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 4:54pm

Right with you oldpirate. I have been a yes voter for exactly those reasons.

Thomas Paine

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 4:49pm

Oldpirate is correct though Sandusky Schools had 5 people making 100,000+ Perkins has 1 employee. I am not going to disclose who they are because I think its BS posting peoples income online. I also think the community should stop focusing on what peoples salaries are. We need more high paying jobs with college degrees in this community. You cant expect someone with a college degree to come in and agree to take $12 an hour teaching when other teaching jobs in the country are paying 35,000 to 45,000 a year.

middleclassworker

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 8:43pm

I agree we need higher paying jobs....BUT the highest paying jobs with the best benefits should not be jobs supported from a tax base! Not to mention the majority of these jobs are not year round jobs.

Thomas Paine

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 11:29am

I agree they shouldn't be jobs supported by a tax base. The question is how do we fix that. I don't think destroying the schools is the way to do that. Without the schools people wont come here to live. Its one of the top reasons if not the top reason people move to a community.

middleclassworker

Sun, 11/17/2013 - 11:40am

What draws anyone to perkins schools right now? Since Gunner has arrived we have successfully separated the community! We have dropped drastically compared to other local schools when comparing school system report card! We paid $ 1.5 M for a stadium to carry the name of the local hospital! We require our student to pay high dollar to play at the stadium. We have somehow placed the school system in to financial distress for many other reasons than just not passing levies!

Gunner needs to go! He has failed the students, athletes, and parents of this school district. The majority of the community has lost trust in the school system administration.

VOTENO

Sat, 11/16/2013 - 7:44pm

Vote yes.

Thomas Paine

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 4:52pm

Expand that from 75,000 a year to 100,000 a year Perkins 15 people. Sandusky has 34.

The New World Czar

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 8:28pm

This makes even more sense for a Sandusky/Perkins merger. Cut the overhead and quit looting through open enrollment.

donutshopguy

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 10:51pm

The $100 million dollar campus and the $50 million dollar high school were just too big of a burden for most people to accept. Also, the school administration could not explain their financial concepts. The all or nothing approach has given us three failed levies. It's time to learn from our mistakes.

I suggest a building block approach. Offer the voting public a basic school. Give them options. Break out areas such as the gymnasium, natatorium, auditorium, music area and art area. Each would be voted on individually and would not be added unless the voters approved. Like the football stadium, each of these areas could raise private funds to help defer some of the total costs.

It's time to be more creative in our funding and building of our public schools. The old concept of everything or nothing is not valid anymore.

We also cannot rely on the federal or state government to save the day.

Thomas Paine

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 11:58am

It would be so much more expensive to do it that way. It costs money to put things on the ballot and make a push for each vote. I would venture to guess you could build everything at once for the price it would cost you to build 3 sections by a piecemeal method. I think most of us are losing or have lost the true meaning of community. I am not an artist nor a musician, If I chose myself to only give money to my interests or had to give money to ALL of my interests the collective cost to me would skyrocket. However if all of us give and collectively pool our resources we can offer things that personally I have no interest in, but I understand that others do and there is a need for things beyond my personal interests. We have completely gone from community minded to individual minded. Its sad.

Nemesis

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 10:08am

So, where is Bherrie? Why isn't he here ranting about what an outrage it is that we're allowed to vote on school taxes at all?

Here's how to move forward:

-The boosters and the yes voters start fundraising to pay back the loan taken in pursuit of their minority goals.

-Continue pay to play - stop making people subsidize the recreational preferences of other peoples' kids.

-No more iPads. Issue less costly Android tablets on a means tested basis, e.g. only to students eligible for free lunches.

-Present an honest estimate of school repair costs, from vendors who are NOT in a position to financially benefit more from construction of new buildings, and submit a fixed term capital improvement levy for just those costs.

-Get a new superintendent - this levy vote was effectively a referendum on Gunner's continued tenure. Make residency a hard and fast requirement not subject to waivers - the new super must have a stake.

I agree with most of what your saying. But I dont think eliminateing the 10-15 dollar an hour jobs is going to save the money.

Nemesis

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 8:04am

Contracting out those services also reduces material and equipment costs. If it takes 2 days a week to cut the schools' lawns, a contractor can be out cutting other clients' lawns the rest of the week and the schools only pass on to the schools the percentage of equipment costs associated with those two days.

underthebridge

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 6:23am

Agreed with most everything. Additionally, do not rotate the new technology hardware every 3 years. What a display of extravagance.

Thomas Paine

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 11:37am

1) Not going to happen
2) Not a bad idea, however 2 things wrong with this: 1. Every other school around us does offer athletics and other activities. 2. Every college looks at extra curricular activities when reviewing applications. Effectively this move puts every Perkins student at a disadvantage.

3) Agree there are cheaper options- not sure about contracts etc or really any of the details to agree or disagree fully with the idea.

4) This has already been done- nobody wants to believe it, but it has.

5) Well on our way to this end

6) Definitely a possibility

7) Perkins has one of the lowest administrative costs of any school in the area. You can disagree if you want but you can look it up in public records.

8) Union issue- hate the idea of steps always have but they exist in many public sectors and I don't believe they should exist. Convincing the union otherwise is the issue.

Informed

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 1:48pm

If you want to keep from having a revolving door of employees, which is never good, then step increases are a good thing. People used to get rewarded for their loyalty to their employer because their employer appreciated that loyalty and experience. Now it seems no thinks about that anymore. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being given more money for more experience.

Thomas Paine

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 2:30pm

I have always had a problem with paying people more just because they exist and have sat at the same desk for 15 years. There are other ways as an employer to show loyalty to its employees besides a separate "you are still breathing pay increase". I have no problem with giving loyal, competent hard working employees raises or increasing their pay and responsibilities. I agree with you employers have shown zero loyalty to people that have stood behind the businesses and made them run. The attitude of big business towards its employees and towards its consumers has been getting worse. I can only blame the business itself for the turnover and lack of loyalty from the workers.

eriemom

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 11:37pm

What is the woman in the picture talking about? I have seen her at Meadowlawn. In fact she was talking to people around the counter about a teacher who she obviously did not care for.

Bherrle

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 7:52am

I was at the board meeting Wednesday. I don't recall every word she said, but she spoke for several minutes. She spoke about how heartbreaking it was to see all of the "Vote NO" signs in the community every day as she drove to work. She also spoke in support of Dr. Gunner, pointing out that thru all of the negativity being thrown at him by those in this community, he is still working hard each day for the future of the district. She pointed out Dr. Gunner shared with staff at a Monday meeting a $2 Million plus grant the district going after in cooperation with several other local districts.

SanduskyStrong

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 7:05am

There is obviously still anger and disagreement, and my biggest fear is that this supposed "start to regaining our trust" is truly a political move that will strip the district of its funds with virtually no return from voters.

Until the schools receive our support, our entire community will depreciate. I know of at least 3 families that looked to move to Perkins and decided not to because of failing levy issues.

The fact is that the cost of doing business, as many conclude the school district must be run like a business, is rising. Without additional funds (which haven't been approved by voters in over 10 years) ANY business, but especially our schools, cannot survive. How can we expect Perkins to operate in 2013 with 1990's income???

I'm not the wealthiest person in the world, but I know how to invest my money wisely, and the schools are a good start.

VOTENO

Sat, 11/16/2013 - 7:45pm

Vote yes.

PyrkinsPyrate

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 7:51am

Sandusky Strong, there is a choice here, either you are incredibly ignorant or plain dishonest. You should know that the "No new funds" trope used by the pro-levy people does not mean that the schools are running on the same amount of money, neither the entire budget nor per student spending. The budget and spending per student has basically gone up about 3 to 5 percent per year for the past 20 years. This is unlike many of the residents who you want to vote for the lavish expenses because their wages have been flat or reduced in the past decade.

Nemesis

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 8:07am

Keep in mind that that 3-5% increase was, by law, fully funded, and inflation in the same period almost never exceeded 2%.

donutshopguy

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 7:56am

Strong,

Shouldn't we also worry about those families on fixed incomes that will have to move out of our community due to increases in school taxes?

This is a complex issue. All situations must be examined to make the best choice for the entire community.

One overall trend must be understood. This community is growing older. Hundreds of people are retiring and now living on a fixed income. This is a very large portion of our community and they vote.

oldpirate

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 8:26am

If they move out of Perkins they only are going to pay more in taxes elsewhere. Perkins is a good deal tax wise. Everybody lives on a fixed income even the schools. The way school funding is set up the community pays. A large sum of what we pay goes to other less fortunate schools. It sucks but that is the reality of it. Simply put either pay less now or more later or take your stand and don't pay any taxes. Good luck with that!

Nemesis

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 10:15am

Or, just wake up and realize that districts with high achieving students could cut their per pupil spending in half and those kids would still achieve, and districts with low achieving students could double their per pupil spending and those kids would still fail to learn. It's the family's culture, not the school's budget, that determines educational results.

The USA spends more per pupil than the rest of the developed world, and gets worse results. There are maybe a handful of Ohio districts that couldn't get the same results spending 20% less than they do, and Perkins is not one of them.

fifteenthgreen

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 10:44am

I'm tired of the "no support for the schools" crap. Add the $750,000 from the PI renewal to the $1.3 million returned from the millage move and that's over 2 million annually to work with.

Press Release - Perkins Local Schools - May 8

Perkins School District voters supported the renewal of the permanent improvement levy while defeating the request for new operating funds last night. The School Board and employees would like to thank the Perkins community for their continued support of the school’s permanent improvement levy. The renewal of this levy is expected to bring in $750,000 annually for building repairs, technology and the replacement of buses, vans, and other capital equipment. This levy is important to keep the aging facilities of the district from deteriorating further until a long-term solution can be implemented. The permanent improvement levy was first passed in November of 1988 and has been continuously supported by the residents of the community since that time.

Bherrle

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 10:55am

15th,

The $750,000 renewal levy passed in May is not new or additional money. It is money that was already being spent for repairs and maintenance, and buses. That amount of money across 4 buildings and a bus fleet just does not go very far, and it is no where near what is needed to address the long term facility concerns.

Nemesis

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 11:56am

Then they should have asked for a modest incease in its millage at renewal/replacement, to cover additional maintenance/repairs, instead of playing a shell game with the inside millage to hijack the funds for their disapproved effort to service their edifice complex.

Thomas Paine

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 11:43am

Is Vote No happy about anything? You would think the odds are by mistake there might be one positive post about something...anything.

Nemesis

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 12:04pm

The Perkins administration has a long way to go before they get into positive territory, as opposed to simply less negative.

Thomas Paine

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 12:10pm

Interesting and quick read if anyone is interested on public education, Thomas Jefferson and how he believed the burden of education should be on the community (Not federal, state, or private entity) http://townhall.com/columnists/c...

Nemesis

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 12:48pm

Agree wholeheartedly. Repeal NCLB, dissolve the federal dept. of education, get the state of Ohio completely out of funding schools, and pass 100% of the savings back to the taxpayers with a flat percentage cut across all tax brackets, and you'll have a lot easier time passing levies. Of course, the flipside is that the community gets full autonomy over curriculum, etc.

Informed

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 1:51pm

Yeah, that'll work. You'll have entire communities of students who know nothing about science, and think the world is 5,000 years old.

Nemesis

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 2:39pm

99% of current high school grads know nothing about science, and of what possible consequence can it be how old they think the earth is when the current system can't even teach them to read or do basic math? People get hung up on one question that has absolutely no bearing on someone's ability to perform pretty much ANY job in society, when the schools can't teach basic literacy and numerancy. That is the folly of having government in the school business - everything is a political football, and people play ideological fiddles while in terms of educational value, Rome burns.

Informed

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 10:30pm

Your first comment is ridiculous. That's funny, because around here the vast majority of high school graduates go to college. How are they getting into schools like OSU, Miami, etc if they lack basic reading and math skills and know nothing about science. I think you know nothing about what actually gets taught in school these days.
And my statement about the age of the earth was just one example, and an obvious oversimplification of the problem of having each community decide a curriculum.

Nemesis

Sat, 11/16/2013 - 12:32pm

Apparently you've missed all the news about how 75% of incoming college freshmen require remedial coursework because they aren't ready to do college level work. Look at how many OSU students never see their sophomore year. Plus, most of them are pursuing watered down liberal arts or politically made up majors that allow them to get a (mostly worthless) degree without ever taking a math or science course.

Just go to any college campus and walk around asking people to explain the difference between an ion and an isotope, or what the cosine of zero is, or even the difference between an adjective and an adverb, and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Freshman year of college, I worked as a teaching assistant. I was lecturing a group of graduate students - people holding bachelors' degrees, admitted to a top tier private university to pursue Masters' degrees in liberal arts and business in a course designed to fulfill their minimum science requirement. I was cautioned upfront that if I so much as put up 2x = 10 on the board and asked them what x was that half the class would be like deer caught in the headlights and the other half would curl up in the corner and start crying about how math is hard, and to keep everything at or below the Mr. Wizard TV show level. That was back when average SAT math scores were 20% higher than they now are.

As for your statement being just one example, I notice you don't offer any others, and your choice of example is telling. Basically, your real objection is that communities in flyover country that don't share your far left outlook might be able to pass their values on to their own kids.

PyrkinsPyrate

Sun, 11/17/2013 - 9:56am

A freshman lecturing grad students. I think C-3PO would consider this delusions of grandeur unless there was a serious breakdown in the way the University process was working there. When you became a sophomore did you begin to teach the postdocs?

Thomas Paine

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 2:18pm

Nemesis never said I agreed with the whole thing. Just think its interesting how many layers of government and red tape schools do have to go through and the decisions schools are forced to make because of it. I don't think getting rid of federal and state involvement is the answer. Changing how they are involved is upd for debate though. Informed, I think we may already have some of those students. Have you seen the movie Idiocracy? I think its becoming true.

Nemesis

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 2:49pm

In the 90's New Zealand's educational reform did get rid of federal involvement in school governance, while switching funding to a pure choice system where the money follows the student to ANY school, public or private, that they choose. They placed each public school completely under the control of a board of directors elected by parents of students at the school. In the first two years, the public schools' share of enrollment dropped several percentage points, but then the new governance system yielded such improvement that in the next few years they gained back twice as much enrollment share as they initially lost.

You don't need a movie - just watch the Jaywalking feature on the tonight show, which is especially damning when he asks general knowledge questions of graduating seniors at the UCLA commencement.

Thomas Paine

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 2:55pm

The movie is supposed to be fiction. Its worth a watch. But agree on Jaywalking. Our country needs to change how we approach education.

Nemesis

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 3:08pm

Not our country, but our society. It's not a matter of political jurisdictions; it's cultural. Thinking and being knowledgeable are not fashionable.

It's my experience that leftists who spout off about the scientific ignorance of religious people tend to suffer from it themselves.

Informed

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 10:36pm

Yeah okay--there are plenty of scientists on both the left and the right who condemn such ignorance.

Nemesis

Sat, 11/16/2013 - 11:54am

Not really, but if it makes you feel better to believe that, go for it. At least you're acknowledging that non-leftists can be legitimate scientists in your view, which is a major breakthrough.

Thomas Paine

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 3:09pm

Agreed.

donutshopguy

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 3:12pm

I'm for adding 2% to the sales tax in Perkins Township for school funding only.

It's a user tax. A large portion of our users are tourists.

Just a suggestion to think about.

Bherrle

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 3:20pm

I could be wrong, but I don't think that State Law allows that. I agree with the concept, however.

Nemesis

Sat, 11/16/2013 - 11:52am

Bad idea - all such suggestions depend upon the false assumption that people will not alter their habits in response to the tax structure.

What really needs to happen is for the public school industry to get over their spendthrift ways, not look for alternative ways to perpetuate the gravy train.

Megalomania

Sat, 11/16/2013 - 10:44pm

Bherrle.

Google Medina Schools sales tax.

pavedparadise

Sun, 11/17/2013 - 12:32am

No way. I thought Gummer said moving the millage back was impossible.

The lies never stop coming.

pavedparadise

Sun, 11/17/2013 - 12:39am

One issue resolved and one to go---booooooot Gummmer

Megalomania

Sun, 11/17/2013 - 12:05pm

So say Erie county has a yearly sales total of $150 million.

A 1% sales tax for schools would raise $1.5 million to be evenly distributed among all the schools residing inside Erie County.
This is to be divided per pupil.
If there are about 12000 students in Erie County schools, a 1% sales tax would raise about $125 per student.
For Perkins this would equate to about $275,000 yearly.
I have not verified these numbers, just a rough estimate.